I have been looking to find a good solution to add additioal streaming capability to my NDX and Superunit. While I was very happy with the integration with Tidal, I really wanted to integrate to Qobuz and if possible to Amazon HD.
There is a lot of talk on the internet about the WiiM Pro - so I thought I would try it. Ordered a unit from Amazon (on the basis that if it didnt work I could send it back) and installed the unit yesterday.
The unit itself is a compact black plastic box - of good quality. It does provide audio and digital output (coax and optical) out, in addition it also allows analogue and optical input - the analogue input it interesting in that itâs possible to stream the analogue inout to a second WiiM Pro device (but I have not tried this so have no idea about the sound quality)
I have connected the WiiM Pro to the NDX using coax (but optical is also available) and I am now able to stream Tidal, Qubuz, Amazon Music, Spotify, Youtube Music + AirPlay, Chromecast and even Bluetooth in additon to internet radio. (The device also supports Pandora, Deezer as well - but I dont have an account wih these vendors).
In particular Amazon HD can be streamed directly.
From a sound quality potin of view - itâs not as good as native Tidal in the NDX, but itâs not too far off - and very goof for a unit that costs ÂŁ149âŚ!!
Clearly most of the sound quality is due to the NDXâs DAC as the way I am using it makes the WiiM Pro a network bridge. I will replace the cheap power supply with an iFi alternative to see if this improves the sound.
All said and done, this is a really easy and cheap way to increase the capability of older Naim streamers. There are other similar products around for around the same price and also more expensive alternatives, but from what I can see, they dont have the very wide integration that the WiiM Pro offers in particuar the easy integration in to Amazon HD and the ability to share a Analogue source across the network (assuming the the purchase of additional WiiM Pro units).
PS. I see that Innuos have brought a new unit, below the Zen Mini, which seems similar in functionality to the WiiM Pro - ? Called the Innuos Pulse at c. GPÂŁ900.
I had a Wiim Mini for a few weeks while my ND5XS had a trip to Salisbury.
I didnât use the onboard DAC, but used digital out to my Qutest as I do with the ND5XS. Sound quality was acceptable but not in the same league as Naim. I also found the app response very sluggish.
Fully agree that a NAIM DAC/streamer of any sort will sound better.
However while the latest Streamers provide support for Qobuz, Tidal, Roon, Chromecast and Airplay anyone who has an older product like a NDS, NDX or a NAC272 - still able to produce a great sound, but functionally limited, products like the WiiM Pro is a cheap stopgap to provie additional functions.
Yes there are more expensive options - which I am sure will provide better sound quality. However even these more expensve alternatives are missing Amazon HD support.
In my case I am happy with my NDX2+555DR streamer combination - but I wanted my 2nd NDX system, and Superuniti to also access Qubuz - not for critical listening, and the WiiM Pro give a very cost effective solution
Yeah, I think those complaining about sound quality are missing the point to a degree - use the WiiM Pro as a transport feeding a bit perfect stream over digital into a competent DAC or amp of choice, thatâs where the sound quality will come from. I think many, if not most people purchase a WiiM device for access to services that their current kit doesnât or wonât support in the near future. If your current kit doesnât support say Amazon Music HD, Airplay 2, ChromeCast or isnât Roon Ready for example, then you can add all that and more for a low price and still enjoy the âsound qualityâ your current kit provides (within the limits of the services mentioned).
You are mirroring my thought quite well. I was looking at a WiiM as a get-me-going-with-streaming option, as Naim options are either too expensive or use the older Naim platform.
I got my WiiM so I could stream bit perfect Amazon Music HD up to 24/192 either from the WiiM app or casting from the Amazon Music app - no other streamer on the market can do the latter at any price, and not many support the former service at all. Iâd also say that many if not most WiiM users use its digital output(s) to an external DAC so the âsound qualityâ of the WiiMâs own DAC is rather moot - itâs not being used.
Also, and I hate to have to say it, if it were in a metal box and cost ten times more, perhaps some would like it more even though its performance wouldnât changeâŚ
As of last week, firmware was released to make the WiiM Pro Roon Ready following its recent certification by Roon. Plus itâll be reduced by 20% in price in the upcoming Amazon Prime Day salesâŚ
Yeah, I have and it doesnât compare when using its internal DAC, but if you read my other posts, I and many users use the WiiM Pro bit perfect over digital into a better DAC/Amp so the WiiMâs âsound qualityâ doesnât come into it.
As has been said by other people, feeding the âbit perfectâ output from the WiiP into a NAIM DAC of any type offers the ability to stream Amazon HD and YouTube Music - and now it can act as a roon endpoint. I also changed the 5V wall plug power supply to an iFi version and it seemed to improve the sound somewhat.
From my point of view it was a cheap functional upgrade to my NDX. Is the sound quality as good as Tdal native on the the NDX - no - but itâs not far off.
Is Qobuz hires via the WiiM better than Tidal native - yes it is (I dont have MConnect so I cant compaire vs that solution)
I did check if it was possible to stream Qobus to the NDX via the NDX2 - but thats not possible
How does Amazon HD and YouTube Music sound - excelent - does MConnect offer this capability - from what I have read - the annwer is no.
Based on this the WiiM is a great, cheap âband aidâ
With Tidal now moving to HiRes Flack, will no dobt resolve some of the gaps in older Naim streamer (assumig that an NDX wil lbe able to decode Tidal HiRes flac) - but there is still not a good solution for Amazon HD even with the new Naim Streamer or come that most other streamers out there. I aware that Audiolab and Bluesound state that they offer Amazon HD streaming, but as I understand the implementaton on both these platforms is not as seamless as it is implemented on the WiiM.